<h4>Chapter 489: DEATH</h4>
Jasmine sat curled on the cold stone bed, arms around her knees, rocking slowly. She had barely slept since Anna’s visit the night before.
Her mind echoed with venomous words, and her chest burned from holding in tears.
Every sound outside her door made her flinch. Every creak in the hallway, every hushed whisper of guards, sent a bolt of anxiety through her.
So when the door clicked open, Jasmine’s breath caught in her throat.
She’s back.
She pulled herself tighter into a corner, trembling.
Anna was perhaps here to finally kill her.
But then—
"Nanny Nia?" her voice cracked out in disbelief.
The older woman stood in the doorway, her eyes soft and glistening with relief. Jasmine’s shoulders instantly fell as a sob caught in her throat.
She leapt forward and wrapped her arms around the woman.
They held each other as both women wept.
Jamsine needed the hug as she gripped nanny Nia’s clothes.
"I didn’t do it," she whispered, voice broken and hoarse once she finally could speak. "I swear to the goddess, I didn’t..."
Nanny Nia held her, one hand cradling the back of Jasmine’s head like she used to when she was a child. "I know," she whispered firmly. "I’ve always known."
Jasmine’s knees nearly buckled.
She’d been holding onto nothing, and now here, finally, was something, someone, to hold her back.
"I thought you hated me," Jasmine sobbed. "I left without telling you. I just left and abandoned you."
Nanny Nia drew back gently. "You hurt me, yes. But I never stopped loving you. And I always knew if you ran, it was for something important. I should have been more cautious and never let you go."
"I missed you so much," Jasmine murmured.
Nia brushed her hair gently. "I missed you too. I wanted to speak to you in the court, but Xaden had us removed. He didn’t want anyone influencing the moment. Anna made sure of that."
"She did it." Jasmine stated. "She was the one who nned it all. I don’t know she did it, but somehow she did. She came here a while ago and said it herself."
Nanny Nia gritted her teeth in rage. "I know that too."
Jasmine’s brow furrowed. "How did you know?"
"She hinted," Nia said darkly. "A few nights ago I saw her in the hallway that led from your bedroom and she told me that it was going to be toote for me to save you."
"I feel like I’m going insane," Jasmine confessed. "No one believes me."
"I do," Nia said. "And I will not let you face this alone. Fiona does too. Erik is conflicted. He knows you didn’t, but he is just confused. The past few weeks have been hard for us."
"How did Xaden return to the pack?" Jasmine asked.
Nanny Nia shrugged. "He staggered into the pack almost dead when they found him. He managed to make it alive."
"What about Kire? And a little boy called Marro?" Jasmine asked alert.
"They are all in the pack." Nanny Nia said.
Jasmine breathed a sigh of relief and smiled to herself. "Thank the goddess."
"How did you return here?" Nanny Nia asked. "Xaden didn’t bargain and yet here you are safe and sound. We thought you were kept prisoner."
"I was." Jasmine said and then proceeded to tell Nanny Nia all that had transpired the moment she had run away.
Jasmine wiped her face as Nanny Nia reached into a cloth basket and brought out a covered bowl.
"Eat something," she said gently. "Please. You have to. For the baby."
Jasmine’s stomach twisted. "I’m not hungry."
"I know," Nanny Nia said. "But you haven’t eaten in two days. You need strength. You need to survive this."
Eventually, Jasmine gave in. The broth was warm,ced with familiar herbs from home.
Halfway through, her stomach stopped protesting, and she ate slowly.
Afterward, Nia kissed her forehead and promised to return.
"What’s going to happen?" Jasmine asked. "How would I prove my innocence. Please don’t leave me."
Nanny Nia held into her for a bit longer.
"We will try to find a way. If Anna did this, then she had to have had help. She couldn’t have done this without some support." Nanny Nia said.
Jasmine felt her bones go weak. "I’m tired Nanny Nia. I’m tired. After everything. This is what I go through? When does this ever end for me."
"Oh my pudding." Nanny Nia said. "The goddess sees you and she is not partial. Very soon. It will soon end. All things muste to an end eventually. And Anna will meet hers eventually."
She hugged her once more and watched in anguish as nanny Nia left the room.
Jasmine felt a flicker of warmth in the frozen cave her heart had be.
But that light flickered out not long after Nia left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hours passed.
Jasmine tossed in the bed, sleep never fullying. Her thoughts were a storm. Was the baby okay? Would Xaden ever believe her? What if she never left this room again?
Then, like lightning slicing through that storm—pain.
It hit low, sudden and deep. Her eyes flew open. Her hand immediately flew to her belly.
Another sharp stab.
She tried to sit up, but the pain was like fire wrapping around her stomach.
Then came the warmth.
She looked down—and saw it.
Blood.
A deep, thick crimson spreading across her thighs.
"No," she gasped. "No, please..."
She stumbled to the door, nearly slipping.
"Help!" she cried, banging on the door. "Please! Something’s wrong!"
Silence.
She screamed louder. "Please! I’m bleeding!"
Still nothing.
She doubled over in pain, sobbing, struggling to stay upright.
Another wave of pain knocked her to her knees. The blood was flowing faster now.
Her heart was racing. Her breaths came in short, panicked gasps.
"I’m sorry," she sobbed, curling into herself. "I’m so sorry..."
Darkness crawled around the edge of her vision. Her hands smeared with blood, she whispered, "Please, don’t go... please... stay with me..."
Then—nothing.
?
When the door opened the next morning to bring her a tray of food, the guard nearly dropped it in shock.
"Shit! Get the healer! NOW!"
The hallway exploded with noise. Feet pounding. Shouts echoing.
But Jasmine didn’t hear any of it.
Shey still, surrounded by the blood of what she had lost.
And everything else faded into silence.